Mobile companies could keep 3G licences forever

The Sunday Times says mobile companies will be allowed to keep their 3G licences permanently if they commit to new broadband plans expected in the next few days from communications minister Lord Carter. He's expected to tell the UK telecomms industry that it needs to provide broadband service to every home in the country. The 3G licences cost a total of £22.5 billion in 2000 but are only valid for 20 years. [Source: TimesOnline.co.uk]

Apple sold 4.4 million iPhones in Q4

Apple says it sold 4.4 million 3G iPhones in the final quarter of 2008, which is down from the 6.9 million sold in the previous quarter but almost twice as many iPhones as were sold in Q4 2007. Whichever way you look at it, that's a lot of phones. [Press release]

3G, smartphones and dongles will help sales in 2009

Although the mobile phone industry saw just 7% annual growth in 2008 - and a 5% year-on-year drop in device shipments is expected to be shown in the final quarter - ABI Research says there are still a few rays of sunshine (their words, not mine) for 2009. Sales of 3G devices worldwide are expected to exceed 50% of all mobile phones in 2009, with smartphone sales also expected to grow along with USB modems. [Press release]

Apple lets iPhone users download via mobile network

Apple 3G iPhone users, who've previously only been able to download music from iTunes via WiFi or by using their computer, can now also download by connecting to their chosen mobile network. [Source: Apple.com Hot News]

3G iPhone can now be unlocked by anyone

The iPhone Dev Team have released a beta version of yellowsn0w; free software that'll apparently unlock any 3G Apple iPhone. [Dev-Team blog]

Vodafone and Orange expected to share more

Vodafone and Orange are apparently close to expanding their existing base station sharing agreement by integrating 3G access and possibly even working together on international coverage, according to a report in The Observer.

Orange says mobile multimedia is more popular than ever

The latest Digital Media Index report from Orange (covering summer/autumn 2008) says that mobile data usage has almost doubled since the company's previous report, which covered November 2007 to January 2008. Sales of 3G mobile internet 'dongles' were up 2,139% since January, with 3G customer numbers rising 86%: 1.3 million people. Mobile search was up 30% and music downloads were up 10%. [Press release]

Exclusive Orange iPhone banned in France

The Conseil de la concurrence, France's competition regulator, has suspended France Telecom's exclusive Apple iPhone 3G deal - which means the phone will also be available from the SFR and Bouygues Telecom networks from tomorrow. France Telecom apparently had a five-year deal with Apple to sell its iPhone on the Orange network in France, which was seen as damaging competition in the mobile phone market. [Sources: WashingtonPost.com; ArsTechnica.com]

North Korea's mobile network launches

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea - known to many as North Korea - has just launched its first official mobile phone service (as originally reported earlier this year). The 3G service currently just covers the capital, Pyongyang, although the network will be expanded to cover the rest of the country. [Sources: BWCS.com; WashingtonPost.com]

Nokia to launch 3G dongle in 2009

Nokia says it'll start selling its first 3G internet modem in early 2009, according to press reports. [Source: WashingtonPost.com]

3G laptops over-hyped according to report

The short-term importance of laptops and netbooks with built-in 3G or WIMAX capabilities has been significantly over-estimated, according to a new report from Disruptive Analysis. It says end-users currently favour external plug-in equipment, such as USB 'dongles', and will continue to do so for several years. However, it says devices with 'embedded' mobile broadband will eventually overtake separate modems, although not all wireless-equipped devices will have their built-in service activated. [Press release]

Apple iPhone TV ad banned by ASA

Following T-Mobile's knuckle-rapping last week, Apple is the latest company to have its mobile phone advertising criticised by the ASA. TV advertising for the Apple iPhone 3G described the handset as offering the internet "really fast", showing pages loading in a fraction of a second. The ASA said the on-screen visuals, in conjunction with the repeated use of the claim "really fast", were likely to lead viewers to believe that the device actually operated at or near to the speeds shown in the ad - but it doesn't. [ASA adjudication]

Hutchison Whampoa to create own phones for 3

Hong Kong’s Hutchison Whampoa has announced the creation of a new division - INQ Mobile - that'll make phones for the company's 3G networks... and also for other operators The first device, currently known as the INQ1, will have prominent social networking features and will go on sale in the UK and Australia later this year. [Sources: WirelessWeek.com; Guardian.co.uk]

Apple iPhone takes 17% of the US smartphone market

Researchers at the NPD Group have calculated that the Apple's iPhone devices now account for 17% of the US smartphone market, up from 11% earlier this year. And apparently 30% of all 3G iPhone buyers in the US switched from another network, which is good news for AT&T, Apple's exclusive network partner in the 'States. Average industry churn in the USA is estimated to be 23%. [Source: cnet.com]

Apple recalls 3G iPhone chargers in USA - but UK is OK

Apple is recalling its Ultracompact USB Power Adapter from the USA, Canada, Japan, Mexico and a number of Latin American countries. The UK, however, is not affected. Apple says the metal prongs from the adaptor can break off and remain in a power outlet, creating a risk of electric shock. The power adapters were supplied with every iPhone 3G sold in the affected countries. Apple is exchanging every ultracompact power adapter for a new redesigned adapter, free of charge. Replacement adapters will be available from 10th October. [Press release]

27,000 iPhones sold in UK every week?

There are reports that Apple is selling 27,000 3G iPhones every week in the UK, giving it around a 5% market share. Figures were said to be up to 50,000 each week immediately after the new iPhone launched in July. [Source: MacNN.com]

More than 600 million 3G users worldwide

Market research company RNCOS has calculated that the total number of 3G users worldwide is now in excess of 600 million. That's based on people using WCDMA and CDMA2000 technology. [Press release]

US exceeds Europe for 3G penetration

Echoing recent figures about mobile web usage, research company comScore says the US now has a higher percentage of 3G users than Europe. 28.4% of all US mobile customers have 3G phones, compared with 28.3% of European mobile customers. Italy and Spain exceed penetration in the USA, but they're the only European countries that do. The actual figures are 64.2 million US 3G users and 63.4 million Europeans. These figures differ somewhat from Informa Telecoms & Media, which recently calculated that there were over 100 million 3G users in Europe. [Press release]

More iPhone legal action

Someone else is taking legal action against the 3G Apple iPhone in the USA. This case, which focusses on 3G capability, is against AT&T and Apple. [Source: AppleInsider.com]

Prepay 3G iPhone launch confirmed

O2 has announced that the 3G iPhone will be available on a prepay tariff from 16th September. The 8GB model will be £349.99 and the 16GB will be £399.99. It’ll be available from O2 stores, The Carphone Warehouse and Apple stores. The price includes unlimited web browsing and WiFi for the first 12 months, with additional use charged at £10 per month. [Source: Mobile News]